Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Finally got underway yesterday after lending a hand at the breakdown for Barclays in Paramus.
There was a bit of a communications breakdown on some tasking... (Really? We don't let everyone
know all the details and decisions regarding their projects & staff? Say it ain't so!)
So, no bombing run to US Open grounds to fling the Brainstorm units at them, just load the truck and go.

Now, you'd think "Load and Go" would imply a quick loadout and I'd be on my merry way...

We hit the site at 7:30am and after it was all said and done, I was on my way at 6:00 pm.

So... after a looooong day, I got behind the wheel, got a bite and a cuppa joe and headed south...

I had intended to make Lorton Virgina before stopping, but the fatigue chemicals in my system had other plans.

Just after crossing the Delaware line out of Pennsylvania I started to see strange things in the headlights...

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Let me preface this by saying, yes, I am a sexist pig.
Save the hatemail for someone who deserves it; Your congressman, perhaps.

One thing we remarked on was the concept of GFA-FFG (good from afar, far from good)
in regards to the visage of some of the women that were on parade...
(a/k/a - a fifty-pacer)
Apparently I am corrupting the rock-solid PatG, since he's not acquainted with the GFAFFG concept, nor the term "butterface" or Fifty-Pacer.

As it applies in this case, there seem to be more of these in Greece than in Spain.

Form the attitude and carriage of the women in Spain, they all believe that they are "10"s, and nothing you can say will convince them otherwise.
(Uncle Jay's [Sexist PigTM] rule of thumb: No matter how physically attractive a woman is, no matter how alluringly attired, no woman rates more than an "8"... The last 2 points are based on intangibles like intelligence, humor, and other considerations.)
Regardless of reality, there is a self-assured attitude of arrogance on the part of most of the women we ogledleered after saw, and in some cases it was warranted, but in most cases, alas, it was disappointing when they got closer.
I do have to grant that one has to work with what one has, and that a "4" that has a well-formed rack and is wearing a paper-thin skin-tight white tanktop and no bra is doing her best to compensate...
Well...
You overlook the hook nose, hillbilly teeth and the complexion that resembles 5 miles of bad road in Georgia.
At least until she gets closer.

(Again, yes, I know, I'm a pig. Fortunately, I'm never running for Public Office.)

Saturday, August 21, 2010

During our installation & testing phase yesterday, we were treated to an exhibition of Spanish dancing...

No... Not this kind, silly...

Something a little more traditional, for basketball, anyway.

I was onceagain on standby to perform CPR or mouth-to-mouth, in case one of the poor malnourished waifs was to pass out from from hunger, or perhaps getting conked on the head by a scoring laptop launched in a low trajectory from courtside something heavy.

The picture was taken by a colleague who was on-site for an event in Munich at the time. The picture may be kind of hard to take. If you look closely you can see what appear to be some survivors of the accident still in the wreckage. The graphic nature of the picture makes you realize how quickly an otherwise ordinary day can take a tragic turn.

Would not vote for any bill supporting troop funding without a firm withdrawal commitment from the Bush Administration.
He has done nothing but continue the Bush admins strategy and to explain how the “surges total failure” has now become his greatest achievement.

(Nota bene: These are just the easiest to document... There are plenty more.)

Lies During First Year in Office

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Obama Inaugaration. 20 Jan 2009

Lies During Second Year

Reform will also rein in the abuse and excess that nearly brought down our financial system. It will finally bring transparency to the kinds of complex, risky transactions that helped trigger the financial crisis.Obama Lies About Financial Reform Bill

All Americans WILL BE, “surprised, disappointed and angry” about lockerbie bomberObama Memo

Do I need to get into the whole foreign ass-kissing, bowing and scraping he's been doing/
How about the thugs and political criminals he has on his staff and cabinet?
Shall we discuss his propensity to play golf or go on vacation as he admonishes the American people to tighten their belts and get ready for some tough times?
Do you like how he encourages voter fraud and intimidation, then keeps his department of "justice" from investigating or prosecuting criminals involved in the same?
And what about the whole Acorn thing? That's a friggin' hole with no bottom...

Dear Continental,
This is complete and utter bullshit.
First, we have to fly in these commuter jets, which are just glorified toothpaste tubes with wings.
And since the friggin' plane is so small, I have to gate check my carry-on bag, further damaging my psyche.
To cap it off, the flight attendant re-assigned my seat (A4, up in front) to someone else.
"If you don't mind, would you sit back in A17?"
Let's see, pitch a fit and look like a jerk, or sit in the next-to-last seat in the plane?

I doubt that the 5'1" FA would get it, but I have to damn-near crawl down the aisle of the Embraer 145, spending 2+ hours with my size 13 ass in a size 10 seat, then waiting for the entire plane to unload before I can crawl out and straighten back up... Well, it damages my calm.

After a full week on the road, then a kamikaze lobster hunt in the Keys, I'm once again back on the road.
This one promises to be a doozie-
Off to Madrid today, then to Athens, then back to NY to jump behind the wheel of one of our 26k trucks and herd it back to Jacksonville...

But first- let me share the fate of a dozen Panuluris Argus with you...
During the 36 hours I was home we had the Millers (the PC's boyfriend's family) over for dinner- a little surf & turf...

Prepped for the Grill
12 split tails. All they need now is some garlic butter...

On the Table
This was the serving of steaks and lobsters at the adult table. The platter I put down at the ravenous beasts kids table was emptied before I could focus the camera.

Dinner was a great success...
Now I'm off to the Iberian peninsula. Lucky me.

My wardrobe is replete with a variety of T-Shirts...
I'm one for a unique logo on my quality shirtwear.
My man Pete is the man for always finding the perfect shirt to fit my persona, as is The Woman Who Knows Most Things.
I have T's from DeHaviland Aircraft, Cyberdyne, TBS Sports (Tokyo Broadcasting), several retro NBA team shirts, Goodwill Games, and a few unobtrusive Keys-centric T's.
I even have a novelty t-shirt from BeerTap Tees with the built-in bottlecap remover.
I have a shirt with the small logo from Weyland-Yutani, which no one ever recognizes, except for Chris Thorn who noticed it one Florida Georgia weekend...

Another favorite t-shirt I wear occasionally is from a little trip to North Carolina I made a couple years ago, to renew a few old acquaintences and to discuss straategy, tactics & ballistics. As I was departing the facilities in Moyock, one of my old comrade-in-arms threw an OD t-shirt at me.
OCIA: "New name, new logo. They're dumping all our old t-shirts. This one might fit you..."

So...
A few weeks back We (JR/Fester DanO, Good Phil and Yours Truly) were sitting in a cut-rate lunchtime pizza jont outside the back door if the Consol Energy Arena having a bit of tiffin.

I was noticing two young men in the restaurant talking and gesturing our direction. I made a mental note and kept on with lunch.
As I got up to leave I was accosted by one of the youngish (late 20s) Middle Eastern men.
"I want to ask you. Do you work for these people?" he asked, in a rather surly tone.

"Excuse me? I not sure I understand your question." I answered, giving him the benefit of th edoubt, thinking he possibly meant the NHL, since DanO and JR were positively festooned with logowear.

"These people." he said - indicating the bearclaw logo of Blackwater on my t-shirt.

Now, young Mr Abdul Hassan Fuckinwitdawrongdood was edging dangerously close to getting an opportunity to visit a trauma center to have a crushed larnyx reconstructed, since he was holding himself in a chin-up, indignant posture. He obviously has an issue with some function of Blackwater's activity in Trashcanistan or Iraq and was looking to find some redress by engaging in meaninful discourse with a tired and crochety ogre.

This, as we say in the business, is a Bad Move.

He's giving me the Stink Eye for wearing a t-shirt...
His body language had "avenging my people" written all over it.
The guy he was having lunch with had already hit the door, were DanO, Phil and JR were also headed, somewhat oblivious to the tableau unfolding in the dining room...

Saturday, August 07, 2010

JR/Fester and Yours Truly were trying to GTFO of Consol Energy Arena on Thursday afternoon- We had flights at 5:20 and 6:40 respectively.
Our Man in Pittsburgh earned some huge props when he brought in lunch for us as we struggled to finish our the install...
The ATC Phil- A/K/A Good Phil, Better Phil, Awesome Phil* came into the Officials Office struggling under the weight of 3 sandwiches and an order of Cheese Fries from Primanti Brothers...

Exercise Your 2nd Amendment Rights

Do you have a firearm that you have purchased for home protection, but are not comfortable with your ability to safely maintain, load and fire it?
Uncle Jay would be glad to help.
If you've never shot a firearm or would like an introduction into shooting sports, just let me know.
I can arrange range time and can give you practical assistance in learning about guns, or help you with your personal protection firearm.

Always remember the 5 rules:

1. Always treat a firearms as if it is loaded.
2. Never point a firearm at anyone or anything that you do not intend to kill or destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
4. Know your target and what is beyond the target.
5. Don't be a dick.

You can violate one of the rules and you might survive; If you break two of the rules, someone could be hurt or killed.
Violate the 5th rule and the person hurt or killed will probably be you.
Always remember: You are personally responsible for anything that happens while a gun is in your hands.

Ex Libiris

People who should have better judgement than to be following a subversive bastard like Yours Truly